JACKSON, MI – Michigan natives are raised to distrust Ohio, to say “liddle” instead of “little,” and to swarm to Frankenmuth like ants on spilt sugar.

Frankenmuth has been called Michigan’s biggest tourist attraction all my life.

Bridge Magazine reported in February that Frankenmuth tops all Michigan attractions with about 3 million visitors a year. Holland State Park finished a distant second with 1.9 million visitors, followed by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Henry Ford Museum, and Grand Haven State Park.

“Frankenmuth, which is Michigan’s most popular tourist attraction, propelled Saginaw County to the top of the tourism revenue chart,” the magazine reported.

It’s time to ask: Really?

Since growing up in Saginaw County, I have visited “The Bavarian Village” of Frankenmuth dozens of times, and I still return roughly once a year. From the sausage shops to the candy stores, I know the town well.

Enjoying Frankenmuth comes naturally, but I refuse to pretend it is the biggest thing going in Michigan.

The main activity in Frankenmuth is eating fried chicken in two cavernous restaurants where servers bring food on platters. Dining there is a magical swirl of gluttonous pleasure.

“More noodles, please,” we ask. “Can you bring some more bread?” Noodles and bread become nearly irresistible when available in endless supplies. Savvy diners always finish eating with lots of chicken left on their platters. Taking home boxes of leftovers is fair reward for spending $100 to feed a family of four with poultry.

Chicken dinner is delightful, for sure, but I reject the concept that eating makes someone a tourist. When I drive to Albion for Mexican food, no one calculates me as tourism dollars for Calhoun County.

Frankenmuth’s second-biggest activity is shopping for Christmas knick-knacks in a store so huge it frightens some people. Shopping, like eating, does not fit my definition of tourism.

Even if shopping and eating are classified as tourist stuff, Frankenmuth is not Michigan’s top attraction.

Unlike a state park, museum or beach, Frankenmuth is an entire town. Granted, it is a rare town where buildings look like gingerbread and grown men wear short leather pants.

If whole towns are “attractions,” Frankenmuth must be far down Michigan’s list.

Three million people attended Detroit Tigers games at Comerica Park last season. If we count visitors to all sporting events, trade shows, concerts, plays and museums, Detroit and many other cities easily beat Frankenmuth.

No insult to Frankenmuth, but I am puzzled why Michigan persists in declaring it the state’s biggest attraction.

Keep that chicken and sausage coming no matter where you really rank, Frankenmuth. I’ll be back in a liddle while.